Music speaks. Music touches. Perhaps the reason why people make and listen to music is because of its uniqueness in delivering messages. Singing in matching melody and harmony leaps over the monochrome boundaries of words and has the ability to pin them into the soul – “Zombie” by the Cranberries does this. “Zombie” tells the story of grief and devastation in the lives of the survivors after a violent attack, ultimately delivering the message of anti-violence. It doesn’t just speak out against bloodshed; it makes listeners feel the need to stop violence. At this time, the rest of the world needs to know the raw and intense grief that is non-existent in news reports: the message and story of the song matters in the world right now as multiple countries are at war and innumerable people are experiencing loss. Through a direct, touching form of music such as “Zombie,” people are more likely to understand the need for peace. Most importantly, the lyrics and rough chords of “Zombie” combined with its contextual background symbolize resilience and protest for peace. 

“Zombie” is not the first or only song where music was used to express messages of nonviolence. In fact, Ireland has utilized music as a method of promoting both peace and culture throughout its history of internal conflicts (Wolesky 2023). Different types of music such as Irish folk music, classical music, and ballade have been utilized to display grief, anger, and fear of violence (Valley 2021). By incorporating traditional sounds and a strong emotional appeal, the music implies an outcry for help (Wolesky 2023). As demonstrated in “The Struggle for Tranquility”, many other artists advocate for ceasing violence in their iconic pieces: John Lennon’s “Imagine” and various artists’ collaboration on “We Are the World.” The Cranberries’s lead singer Dolores O’Riordan said, “I care about the fact that innocent people are being harmed, it doesn’t take sides. It’s a very human song” (Savage 2018). Instead, she vividly draws out the pain of loss that can be applied to anyone in the world who has lost their loved ones to violence (Savage 2018). Through this, the band demonstrates support for these people and shows that hope is still in the air . 

The most important element in delivering a message is the content itself. “Zombie” was inspired by the Irish Republican Army’s bombing in Ireland that killed innocent children (Song 2022). As argued in the “Critical Analysis of 'Zombie' by The Cranberries”, the lyrics directly draws the images of pain to make its message clear: “Another head hangs slowly, child is slowly taken” (Song 2022). This line goes straight to the point about the child’s life being taken away, which  “The Song that Fought Tanks” defines as an essential part of the timeless anthem of peace. “The Song that Fought Tanks” argues that a raw and direct statement like above is necessary in demonstrating the horrible outcome of violence since it shows the utter brutality of reality (Song 2022). The melody and guitar riffs are also especially rough and aggressive to show the anger and frustration felt (Song 2022). “Ode To My Family” and “When You’re Gone” are both iconic pieces that depict the mellow characteristics of the band originally – “Zombie” is the polar opposite of those hits (Song 2022). Finally, the "Various Covers of 'Zombie'" will deal with how different bands interpreted this song and its messages, extending the application of the song globally. 

The non-musical factors of a song are just as important in its message delivery as its musical elements. This is especially dealt with in the “Critical Analysis of 'Zombie' by The Cranberries.” Dolores O’Riordan is one of the biggest inspirations of this song (Savage 2018). She was a trailblazer as a female lead singer in rock and challenged stereotypes about women in rock music (Griffiths 2017). The sheer energy that she brought out created her to not only become a feminist icon, but a symbol of resilience (Griffiths 2017). This image fits with “Zombie”, a song that sings of resilience against brute force. Additionally, her passing in 2018 added on sentimental values and brought back attention to the song decades after its release (Powell 2020). On another note, the Cranberries had an excellent band chemistry where the members were supportive of each other and ‘clicked’ harmonically (Baxter-Moore 2024). The absence of Dolores is equivalent to the loss of the backbone of the song; however, this adds an emotional element to the song now. This contextual information may not be available on the surface level, but it facilitates special bonds to form between the band, song, and fans (Baxter-Moore 2024). As a result, the intended message of the song is more deeply etched into the minds of the fans.

“Zombie” has proven its power as one of the most iconic pieces in the band’s history. Its influence was powerful to the point where it had to be temporarily banned in some countries during warfare to prevent provoking the people (Powell 2020). “Zombie”’s power in delivering the message of anti-violence rises from both its specific musical and non-musical factors that were intended to inspire those hurt by violence and condemn perpetrators.